getbusiness: Constant learning the key to success

Graham Jones is an internet psychologist who runs a consultancy helping companies who need to make better use of their websites

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It was good to see the winners in the Local Business Accelerators competition all saying how much they valued the prize.

They haven’t won a pot of cash – though they will get some free advertising in getreading. But the three businesses all agree that the mentoring they will receive is excellent value.

They will all benefit from the advice of Mark Ashwell, who runs TradeMark windows – a £5million business with a 20-year pedigree.

If you have stayed in business for more than a year, you are doing well – many start-ups fail within the first 12 months. If you make it to three years, you have seen off the bulk of the competition because few new firms get that far. But if you have been in business continuously for two decades, well you must know a thing or two about running a company. And if you manage to be a multi-million pound enterprise too, then you are seriously good.

One thing successful entrepreneurs have in common is their desire to learn from others who have been there before them. Highly successful business people tend to have someone they can turn to from whom they can get advice, support and ideas. Some of the most successful business people in the land have mentors. And don’t forget, every single one of those gold medallists at London 2012 had coaches and mentors to help them gain every ounce of improvement.

It is no bad thing to have to turn to someone for advice and support. Indeed, the actions of leading entrepreneurs and gold medallists show it is a good thing.

Which can only mean one result for the three finalists in the Local Business Accelerators awards – excellence. The mere fact that they all are so keen on getting the mentoring means they have just the right mindset for success.